Means for identifying devices



May 11 1926. 1,584,330

G. c. SNYDER MEANS FOR IDENTIFYING DEVICES Filed August 7, 19 22 a 4. a 7 o o 3 a 3 5 a s F102. FIG-5- IN VBNTO R I CH /owe, C. SI def! Y -r-r'v Patented May 11, 1926.

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GEORGE C. SNYDER, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., ASSIGNOR TO STANDARD SEAL AND NUMBER CORPORATION, OF WILMINGTON, DELAVTARE, A CORPORATION OF DELAWARE.

MEANS FOR IDENTIFYING DEVICES.

Application filed August 7, 1922.

Although the present invention is not restricted to the particular objects herein specified, the particular object of the invention is to provide a method and means for preventing unauthorized persons from changing the numbers used to identify frames and engines of motor vehicles, and so far as I am aware is a complete departure from the conventional means and method heretofore resorted to with a view to preventing thefts and enabling the tracing of such thefts. Heretofore so far as I am aware all efforts have been directed toward means for making it physically difficult, inconvenient or unhandy to remove or change the identifying numbers of motor vehicles, that is to say the inventors and experimenters seem to have relied on the idea that some physical form, shape or material might be applied at the factory in such manner as to defy the skilled thief to remove or alter the identifying number without leaving a trace of such removal or alteration. This theory is basically wrong inasmuch as the craftsmanship of the thief or crook is equal to, if not superior to, that of the workman who did the original work. v

Under my invention I introduce a factor vital to the success of any device or method designed to prevent the removal or alteration of the numbers as will appear hereafter.

One of the objects of the invention specifically stated is to provide a means for and method of identifying a device such as a motor vehicle, which consists in applying thereto a distinguishing symbol, mark or number, which identifies the device and hiding such symbol, mark or number against view or handling. Another object is to provide means for identifying a device comprising two different distinguishing sym bols, marks or numbers of the same value, one being sealed over the other whereby the other is hidden from view, but it will appear herefrom that the number which is sealed over need not be necessarily under the visible number.

These being among the objects of the present invention, my invention consists of the steps in the method and the features of the construction on the vehicle, incidental to such method, all as will hereinafter be fully described in detail and claimed with Serial No. 580,193.

of Fig. 2 placed over the parts shown in Fig. 1 and sealed to the engine base;

Fig. 4 is a transverse vertical section of the parts shown in Fig. 3;

Fig. 5 is an elevation of a portion of a frame of a motor vehicle showing my invention in part;

Fig. 6 is an elevation of a frame number plate;

Fig. ing the identifying means applied to the frame;

Fig. 8 is a modification of that portion of my invention shown in Figs, 1 and 5 for example, and

Fig. 9 shows a desirable method step.

Reference may be had to Figs. 1, 2 and 3 to show how the improved means for identification. are applied directly to the base of an engine of a motor vehicle for instance. It is assumed that the particular engine to be identified bears the factory identification number 243,700 as shown in Fig. 1. Under the present invention it is preferred to form the digits of that'particular number or any other identifying number" directly in the engine base, by sinking the digits below the surface. The engine base 31 is usually provided as common practice with a raised flat surfaced boss 82, and the identifying number is impressed in that surface at 83.

Directly upon the digits of the identifying number, or associated directly with the same as shown in Fig. 1 there are placed suitable distinguishing symbols or marks as at 3% These symbols or marks may be made in any desired manner or design upon the surface of the base, but preferably I prefer color symbols, as these are easily, quickly and cheaply applied at the factory, In the particular example given in Fig. 1 the identifying number 243,700 has been chosen for the purpose of explaining this part of the invent-ion. The digits of the identifying number may each be colored themselves, or

7 is a view similar to Fig. 3 show-- as shown in Fig. 1 the colors may be applied adjacent to the digits, in the form of small dots or daubs by means of a small paint brush or by a finger.

It is intended under the present invention that the distinguishing symbols or marks for the identifying number should be applied at will, that is to say it is a hit or miss process, for the digits employed in motor vehicle factories usually run up to three or 11101 and the possibility of combination of colors is inv such case very greatforin the case of six digits it will approximate a millionin that it is very unlikely that the trusted employee of the factory who applies these colors in private and at will, will strike upon the same combination, of colors frequently for a number differing from the one which he is distinguishing at the time, as for instance the number 243=,700. Consequently it is extremely unlikely that the consecutive numbers of any series will happen to have the same combination of colors, and it is practically certain that no one will be able to guess at the particular combination of color symbols or the like applied in secret at the factory as representative of any particular number. The combination .ofcolors which has been applied at will, to say the identifying number 243,700 of Fig; l is as follows: for the digit 2blue has been selected; for l-redg for 3black; for 7-black; for the tens O-blue and for the units 0-red. This combination is as the person who applied them happened to arrange it, but the color symbols could have been one of any indefinite number of possible combinations.

The identifying number on the base of the engine now having been symbolized as by daubs of color, is then preferably covered up together with the symbols so that it is opaqu'ely sealed and hidden from view, and the symbols thereof cannot be seen or even be felt. In Fig; 2 a plate 35 of metal is shown, being slightly smaller than the flat surface on the engine base which carries the number 243,700 for instance. This plate 35 is provided at 36 with an identifying number as for instance 243,700 to correspond with the same identifying number on the base in Fig.v 1. This plate 35 is intended to be sealed over the number and symbols on the base. The number on the plate is not intended to have, any visible distinguishing marks or symbols, and it usually appears just as the visible numbers on an engine base now appear in practice. To seal the plate 35 over the identifying number and symbols on the engine base solder as at 37 is preferably applied along the edges of the plate to attach the same to the surface onwhich the plate is imposed. hen solder is employed it will furnish a considerable outer surface so that the name of the automobile manufacturer for instance may be impressed upon the solder at one or more points. In some such way therefore the letters of the name of the manufacturer provide distinguishing or significant visual indicia of a different class from the numerical indicia, while the solder or other metal different from the metal of the plate, together with the metal furnished by the plate provides a composite metallic layerwhich has a continuous composite surface of obviously different metals. It is clear that the number plate may be applied to the engine base and permanently secured thercto by spot-welding or otherwise as by blind screws, rivets, and etc. It will also be apparent that the indicia on the plate 35 are of an entirely different class or order from the codeindicia on the engine base, having a different appearance although of the Same numerical value.

In the adoption of the means for identifying a device, such for instance as that specifically shown and described, it is essential that a record be kept preferably at the factory of the combination of colors or other symbols or marks which have been employed on the means of identification on the engine, and in a manner to link those symbols with the par ticular number .which they are intended to represent. Of course this can also be done elsewhere than at the factory such as by a special organization of sealers, who are under bond and perhaps under the control of an association of insurance companies, who are vitally interested in the prevention of theft, particularly that of preventing the stealing of automobiles.

In Fig. ,5 it is assumed that the identifying frame number is applied to one of the side bars 38 of the frame. The ofiicial sealer of frames then making use of different colors applies little daubs or patches of them to the surface of the frame in any sequence which may occur to him at the particular moment, as he is particularly unlimited as to possible varieties of sequences. In Fig. 5 it has been assumed that'the digit 3 is red, 6 black, 3 red, 5 lue, 8 red and the unit 5 black, reading from left to right. The sealer of'frames may adopt any other sequence of colors which may occur to him or may apply the distinguishing symbols or marks in any other way desired, as explained in connection with the means for identifying the engine base.

A metal plate 39, such as shown in Fig. 6, carries a number corresponding with 363,585, and this is applied to and sealed to the frame of the machine so as to hide the distinguishing symbols or marks. A line of solder such as 40, as shown in Fig. 7 may be run around the edge of the frame number plate 39 so as tosecure it to the frame permanently or this may be sealed in any suitable manner.

mains unknown to everyone just what num ber the combination of the symbols and so forth stand for. There is one exception, of course, a trusted employee in the factory applies these symbols and so forth to the car or other article, but even he would hardly remember just what combination he had applied after he had sealed up the records, which records are retained in sealed condition at the factory or other central point,

Supposing that a person has unlawful possession of an automobile protected by the described means and method. will have notified the police and given them the numbers displayed on the stolen car. The thief is afraid to sell or use the car under its proper number, and he is likewise afraid to change the number as he does not possess information as to proper symbols to go with any other number. If he were to break the seal and put on another plate differently numbered, he must then either have left the original symbols or have changed them, but in either case the symbols would not correspond with the factory records as to the substitute number. The records would show that there was no such combination of number and symbols. If a person under suspicion had put on a differently numbered plate, it would be removed by the police, who would read the combination of symbols and would wire them with the number to the factory, asking if such and such a combination of numher and symbols was of record. The factory would wire a reply that no car had been sent out with such combination. This would be direct evidence that the possessor of the car was not its owner, and would be the important link in convicting an unlawful possessor.

The result is that under this method a thief cannot possibly substitute numbers without the great danger of conviction, and he cannot dispose of stolen cars under their proper numbers without a like danger, so in either case thievery is practically prevented thereby.

Fig. 8 shows one of the many modifications possible in marking a car, under this invention. The engine base, for example, may carry concealed symbols only, instead The owner of both symbols and number, excepting that the base would hear the number, visibly, which corresponds with the hidden symbols. Now I will describe in particular the method preferably used in applying the soldering element-to attach the plate to the surface of the engine base or frame or other partof the machine. This consists 1n supporting the part to be numbered in such, a manner that the surface whereon the solder is applied shall be nearly level, so that the hot semi-liquid soldering element may be poured, from a ladle or the like, along the edge of the plate where it will adhere to both plate edge and frame surface (or engine base surface or other part, as the case may be) and when so applied on a fairly level surface it will harden without leaving any exposed sharp edges as illustrated by Fig. 9, but if the plate and frame surface were at a decided angle from level the soldering element would run or trickle by its own gravity toward the lowest side and would not appear uniform in depth and contour as shown,

It will thus be seen that the plates when uniformly applied by my preferred method of pouring without the use of a soldering iron or like implements can only be so applied successfully, upon fairly level surfaces to produce soldered joints of uniform appearance.

The plates are applied to surfaces that will be approximately vertical when the machine is completely assembled and standing normally on its wheels or other base and thus in the case of an automobile the described soldered joint can not be closely imitated by pouring solder on an unlevel surface and it is quite impracticable for a thief to dismantle a car in order to turn the plate and joint surfaces to a level position, and it is equally impracticable for him to turn up the entire car to a position with one side set of wheels in the air to bring the surfaces. level in order to pour solder, hence the thief is discouraged from tampering with the seals at all for such action will put the car under suspicion which would be fatal to him.

A modified, supplemental or auxiliary means of identification will now be described. Molten solder or the like may be directly applied to a surface of a motor Vehicle in such way that the solder will firmly adhere thereto. Ordinarily or normally a motor vehicle rests upon its wheel base. Accordingly, I propose to apply molten solder or the like to one of the surfaces of the frame, engine or other part which does not normally face upward, and to this end the surface to receive the solder is supported so as to temporarily face upwardly, and then the molten solder or the like is poured upon such upturned face, or otherwise freely applied thereto, while said face is approximately level. Thereafter a name, number, mark or symbol is impressed upon or into the exposed surface of the solder or the like before or after returning the machine or part thereof, which has the solder attached to it,,back to its normal position so that the said soldered surface will not face upwardly when the machine is in operation or at rest on a highway or floor. The present invention therefor comprehends a case where the solder is applied to the bottom face of a normally level surface, even if the serial number of the part or machine were applied directly to the solder, without using any number plate or any other means of identification of the particular surface just referred to as soldered.

It will be observed from Figs. 3 and 7 in which the word Jones appears on the solder a0 surrounding the serial number of the engine or the frame as the case may be of a motor vehicle, that the indicia formed by the.

name Jones surrounds the serial number. It will furthern'iore be observed that the sur faces formed by the number and the surfaces formed by the other surrounding indicia are not only of difierent appearance from each other and of different metallic composition and hence different texture, so that the numerical indicia formed by the serial number may be differentiated from the nonnumerical indicia by the different surface appearances irrespective of the difference of configuration of the two indicia. It is also obvious that the non-numerical indicia such as Jones, for example, need not entirely surround the numerical indicia but may and other visual, significant, indicia for-med of another metal permanently adhering to the plate and sealed to the said rigid member, and said other indlcia being of different configuration from, and enclosing aforesaid indicia, whereby the removal of the plate from the rigid member involves the mutilation of one of said metals or the rigid member.

2. Means for identifying a motor-driven vehicle, comprising a metal plate permanently. sealed to a rigid member-of the vehicle, visual. distinguishing indicia, integral with the surface of the plate and constituting inherent portions of the metal of the plate, said indicia being of one class, and other visual, significant, indicia of another class, juxtaposed to aforesaid indicia and formed of another metal permanently adhering to the plate and sealed to the said rigid memher, and said other indicia being of different configuration from aforesaid'indicia, whereby the removal of the plate from therigid member involves the mutilation of one of said metals or the rigid member, one class of indicia being numerical and the other class non-numerical.

GEORGE G. SNYDER. 

